Basic Time Words: Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Today', 'Tomorrow', and 'Yesterday' to anchor your sentences to the present, future, or past without needing specific dates.
- Use 'Today' for the current 24-hour period: 'Today is sunny.'
- Use 'Tomorrow' for the day after now: 'Tomorrow is Tuesday.'
- Use 'Yesterday' for the day before now: 'Yesterday was cold.'
Overview
It is important to talk about time. We use today, tomorrow, and yesterday. These words change every day.
They are indispensable for referencing the present, future, and past days relative to the current moment, enabling precise communication about daily activities, plans, and recollections.
Use these words for your daily life. They help you talk about plans and the past. This lesson shows how to use them correctly.
How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
Yesterday | The day immediately before today. | I studied yesterday. |
Today | The current day. | I am studying today. |
Tomorrow | The day immediately after today. | I will study tomorrow. |
Yesterday was Tuesday.
Today is Wednesday.
Tomorrow will be Thursday.
The day before yesterday was Monday.
The day after tomorrow will be Friday.
When To Use It
yesterday):I submitted my assignment yesterday.(The action of submitting is complete and occurred on the previous day.)We had a team meeting yesterday morning.(The meeting took place before the current day began.)
- Past on
today:I already finished my main tasks today.(The tasks are complete, but within the current day's timeframe.) - Present on
today:I am working from the office today.(This describes your current location for the present day.) - Future on
today:I have a presentation at 3 PM today.(The presentation is yet to occur, but within the current day.)
tomorrow):We will launch the new feature tomorrow.(The launch is scheduled for the next day.)The university library opens at 9 AM tomorrow.(A scheduled event for the upcoming day.)
The deadline for the essay is tomorrow or I reviewed the data yesterday. In social settings: Are you free for coffee today? or What did you do yesterday evening? Their strategic deployment ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity regarding when an action occurred or will occur.Common Mistakes
- Incorrect:
I met my friend on yesterday. - Correct:
I met my friend yesterday.
- Incorrect:
The report is due on tomorrow. - Correct:
The report is due tomorrow.
Tomorrow and Yesterday:- Confused Statement:
I have a big exam yesterday, so I need to study.(This implies the exam already happened, contradicting the need to study.) - Corrected:
I have a big exam tomorrow, so I need to study.
- Incorrect:
I will go to the gym yesterday. - Correct:
I went to the gym yesterday.
- Incorrect:
She studied for the test tomorrow. - Correct:
She will study for the test tomorrow.
- Incorrect:
The meeting is the day tomorrow. - Correct:
The meeting is tomorrow.
- Incorrect:
I have a Class Tomorrow. - Correct:
I have a class tomorrow. - Correct:
Tomorrow, I have a class.
Real Conversations
Observe how today, tomorrow, and yesterday are seamlessly integrated into various modern English interactions, reflecting their practicality across different registers and mediums.
1. University Student Text Message Exchange (Informal Planning):
Participant A
Hey, still on for the study session tomorrow?Participant B
Yeah, planning to get to the library around 10 AM. Did you finish reading that article yesterday?Participant A
Almost! Just need to finish a few pages today. See you then.Analysis
tomorrow confirms a future plan, yesterday inquires about a completed past task, and today describes an ongoing action within the current day.2. Professional Email (Formal Scheduling):
Subject
Dear Team,
Please note that the final version of the Project Alpha proposal is due tomorrow. I will circulate the revised draft today for your review. The preliminary figures were reviewed yesterday afternoon and are now updated.
Best regards,
[Manager Name]
Analysis
tomorrow for a future deadline, today for a current action (circulating the draft), and yesterday for a completed past action (reviewing figures). Despite the formal context, the directness of these time adverbs remains consistent.3. Casual Conversation at a Cafe:
Friend 1
How was your presentation?Friend 2
It went well, thanks! I was so nervous about it yesterday, but it's a relief it's over now. What are you up to today?Friend 1
Just catching up on emails. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning.Analysis
Yesterday expresses a past state (nervousness), today asks about current activities, and tomorrow states a planned future event (doctor's appointment).4. Social Media Post (Informal Recounting):
Beach day yesterday! ☀️ So much fun. Back to work today. Dreaming of tomorrow already... #beachlife #throwback
Analysis
yesterday referring to a past activity, today to the current state, and tomorrow indicating anticipation for the future. The use of #throwback reinforces the past tense of yesterday.These examples demonstrate that regardless of formality, today, tomorrow, and yesterday provide a direct and unambiguous way to organize events temporally within a conversation, email, or text. They are pillars of daily communication.
Quick FAQ
Yes, they are flexible. While most commonly found at the beginning or end of a sentence for clarity, they can sometimes appear in the middle for emphasis, especially in spoken English. However, for A0 learners, starting with placement at the beginning or end is the clearest and most grammatically sound approach. For example: Tomorrow, I have an important meeting. or I have an important meeting tomorrow. Both are correct.
This difference stems from their grammatical classification and inherent meaning. Monday is a specific proper noun for a day of the week, requiring the preposition on to indicate the temporal relationship. In contrast, today, tomorrow, and yesterday function as adverbs of time or sometimes as temporal nouns that inherently carry the meaning of 'on this day', 'on the next day', or 'on the previous day'. They are more akin to adverbs like now or then in their ability to specify time directly, without the need for an additional preposition to govern them. The linguistic principle is that their lexical meaning already includes the temporal specification that on would otherwise provide.
yesterday morning?Absolutely. This is a very common and natural way to be more specific about the timing within today, tomorrow, or yesterday. Phrases like yesterday morning, today afternoon, tomorrow evening, or yesterday night are grammatically correct and widely used. This adds a layer of precision without altering the core function of the base word.
For general daily use, today, tomorrow, and yesterday are standard and appropriate across almost all contexts, from highly informal conversations to formal written reports. There aren't direct, widely-used single-word synonyms that are distinctly more formal or informal. In highly technical or legal documents, you might encounter phrases like on the current date, on the subsequent day, or on the preceding day, but these are clunky and rarely used in natural communication. The strength of today, tomorrow, and yesterday lies in their universal understanding and efficiency.
In reported speech, the deictic nature of today, tomorrow, and yesterday shifts. When direct speech containing these words is reported at a later time, they usually transform to maintain temporal accuracy relative to the new moment of reporting. For example:
- Direct Speech: `She said,
Verb Agreement with Time Words
| Time Word | Common Verb | Tense | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Yesterday
|
was / did / went
|
Past Simple
|
Yesterday was fun.
|
|
Today
|
is / am / are
|
Present Simple
|
Today is Tuesday.
|
|
Tomorrow
|
is / will be / am going to
|
Future
|
Tomorrow will be sunny.
|
Meanings
Words used to identify a specific day relative to the moment of speaking.
Current Day
The day that is happening right now.
“Today is my birthday.”
“What is the weather today?”
Next Day
The day that will occur after the current day ends.
“See you tomorrow!”
“Tomorrow will be better.”
Previous Day
The day that occurred before the current day started.
“Yesterday was Sunday.”
“I saw him yesterday.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + Verb + Time Word
|
I am busy today.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + Verb (not) + Time Word
|
I was not here yesterday.
|
|
Question
|
Verb + Subject + Time Word?
|
Are you free tomorrow?
|
|
Emphasis
|
Time Word + Subject + Verb
|
Yesterday, I was tired.
|
|
Possessive
|
Time Word + 's + Noun
|
Today's weather is nice.
|
|
Future Intent
|
Tomorrow + is + Noun
|
Tomorrow is the big day.
|
Formality Spectrum
Are you available for a meeting tomorrow? (Scheduling)
Are you free tomorrow? (Scheduling)
You free tomorrow? (Scheduling)
Link up tomorrow? (Scheduling)
The Temporal Anchor
Past
- Yesterday The day before
Future
- Tomorrow The day after
Verb Tense Alignment
Which word should I use?
Did it already happen?
Is it happening now?
Common Phrases
Greetings
- • See you tomorrow
- • How is your today?
- • Yesterday was great
Work
- • Due today
- • Meeting tomorrow
- • Finished yesterday
Examples by Level
Today is Monday.
I am happy today.
Yesterday was Sunday.
See you tomorrow!
It is hot today.
Tomorrow is my birthday.
I went to the park yesterday.
Are you working tomorrow?
Today is busier than yesterday.
I didn't see you yesterday.
What are we doing tomorrow?
I have a lot of work today.
Today's world is very digital.
I finished the project yesterday afternoon.
We need to prepare for tomorrow's presentation.
If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.
Yesterday, I realized I forgot my keys.
I'll have the answer for you by tomorrow.
Yesterday's news is no longer relevant.
The decisions we make today will shape our tomorrow.
I was under the impression the deadline was yesterday.
Tomorrow marks the tenth anniversary of the company.
Having finished the work yesterday, I can relax today.
The weather forecast for tomorrow looks promising.
In the grand scheme of things, yesterday's failures are today's lessons.
The technology of tomorrow is being developed as we speak.
Should it rain tomorrow, the event will be moved indoors.
Yesterday saw a significant dip in the stock market.
We must not dwell on the ghosts of yesterday.
Today's youth are more socially conscious than ever.
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day.
The ephemeral nature of 'today' makes every moment precious.
To speak of 'yesterday' is to invoke a temporal construct that no longer exists.
The project, originally slated for completion yesterday, has been deferred indefinitely.
One might argue that tomorrow is merely a projection of today's anxieties.
Yesterday's avant-garde is today's kitsch.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'today' when they mean the evening hours.
Using 'tomorrow' in stories about the past.
Using 'yesterday night' instead of the standard 'last night'.
Common Mistakes
I go yesterday.
I went yesterday.
On tomorrow is my birthday.
Tomorrow is my birthday.
Today morning I eat.
This morning I ate.
Yesterday is Sunday.
Yesterday was Sunday.
I will see you in tomorrow.
I will see you tomorrow.
Yesterday I have seen him.
Yesterday I saw him.
The tomorrow will be better.
Tomorrow will be better.
He said he will come tomorrow (in a past story).
He said he would come the next day.
I am working until tomorrow morning.
I am working until tomorrow.
Yesterday's of the company were better.
The company's past was better.
Sentence Patterns
Today is ___.
I ___ yesterday.
Are you ___ tomorrow?
Yesterday, I should have ___.
Real World Usage
Free tomorrow?
I will send the file today.
Tomorrow: Partly Cloudy
Yesterday's vote changed everything.
Your appointment is tomorrow at 10.
Throwback to yesterday! #TBT
The 'No Preposition' Rule
Verb Tense Check
Sentence Placement
The 'Tomorrow' Promise
Smart Tips
Use 'tonight' instead of 'today evening'. It sounds much more natural.
Switch from 'tomorrow' to 'the next day' to keep the timeline consistent.
Add a comma to give the reader a small 'breath' and emphasize the time.
Remember: Yesterday = Was, Today = Is, Tomorrow = Will be.
Pronunciation
Today
The 'o' is a schwa sound /təˈdeɪ/. Don't say 'TOO-day'.
Tomorrow
Stress the second syllable /təˈmɒroʊ/. The first 'o' is also a schwa.
Yesterday
Stress the first syllable /ˈjɛstərdeɪ/.
Time Emphasis
YESTERDAY, I went. (Rising on Yesterday)
Emphasizing that the time is the most important part of the sentence.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Y-T-T: Yesterday (Back), Today (Here), Tomorrow (Front).
Visual Association
Imagine a sun. Yesterday, the sun set (behind you). Today, the sun is high (above you). Tomorrow, the sun will rise (in front of you).
Rhyme
Yesterday is gone and past, Today is here and moving fast, Tomorrow comes to us at last.
Story
I woke up Yesterday and felt old. I woke up Today and felt bold. I will wake up Tomorrow and be gold.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences: one thing you did yesterday, one thing you are doing today, and one thing you will do tomorrow.
Cultural Notes
In US/UK business culture, 'tomorrow' is a strict deadline. If someone says 'by tomorrow,' they usually mean by 9:00 AM the next day.
The concept of 'Mañana' (tomorrow) can sometimes be more fluid in certain cultures, meaning 'in the future' rather than 'the literal next day'. In English, 'tomorrow' is almost always literal.
The phrase 'That is so yesterday' is a common idiom meaning something is out of style or no longer cool.
From Old English 'to dæge' (today), 'to morgenne' (tomorrow), and 'geostran dæg' (yesterday).
Conversation Starters
What did you do yesterday?
What are your plans for tomorrow?
How is your day going today?
If you could change one thing you did yesterday, what would it be?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
I ___ a movie yesterday.
Today is Wednesday. ___ was Tuesday.
Find and fix the mistake:
I will see you on tomorrow.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Select the natural sentence.
Are you going to the party ___?
___ weather is very cold.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesI ___ a movie yesterday.
Today is Wednesday. ___ was Tuesday.
Find and fix the mistake:
I will see you on tomorrow.
busy / I / today / am
1. Yesterday, 2. Today, 3. Tomorrow
Select the natural sentence.
Are you going to the party ___?
___ weather is very cold.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe store is closed ___, so I can't buy groceries.
We had a meeting on tomorrow.
Which sentence is correct?
Translate into English: 'Trabajo hoy.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the actions with the correct time words:
Did you watch the game ___ night?
Tomorrow I went to the beach.
Which of these sentences is correct?
Translate into English: 'Ella estudiará mañana.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the time words to their categories:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
It is better to say `last night`. While people will understand you, `last night` is the standard expression.
It can be both! In 'Tomorrow is Monday,' it is a noun. In 'I will go tomorrow,' it is an adverb.
Yes, it is common to put a comma after a time word at the beginning: `Yesterday, I went to the store.`
Yes, in a general sense, it can mean 'nowadays' or 'in this era'. Example: `Today, technology is everywhere.`
In English, relative time words like `today`, `tomorrow`, and `yesterday` act as adverbs that already include the 'on' meaning within them.
There isn't a single common word like 'tomorrow'. We just say `the day after tomorrow`.
We say `the day before yesterday`. Some old books use 'ereyesterday,' but no one says that now!
No. `Tomorrow` is for the future. You must use a future verb like 'will' or 'is going to'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Hoy, Mañana, Ayer
English never uses 'the' with these words (e.g., not 'the tomorrow').
Aujourd'hui, Demain, Hier
French doesn't use prepositions either, making the transition to English easy.
Heute, Morgen, Gestern
English distinguishes 'tomorrow' from 'morning' clearly.
Kyō, Ashita, Kinō
Japanese doesn't require verb tense changes as strictly as English does.
Al-yawm, Ghadan, Ams
Arabic speakers often try to say 'in the tomorrow' because of the preposition 'fi'.
Jīntiān, Míngtiān, Zuótiān
English requires tense agreement (was/is/will be).
